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Practice Education

Work Based Learning

Practice Education at the University of Galway

Practice Education is a process of work-based learning which involves a partnership between the University Practice Education Co-ordinator, and if appropriate the regional placement facilitator/practice tutor and work based Practice Educator and the student in a practice context.

Overall requirements

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Revised Minimum Standards for the Education of Occupational Therapists (2016) and CORU Occupational Therapist Registration Board; Criteria for Education and Training Programs (2017) stipulate that all students are required to complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of Practice Education and demonstrate competence under the supervision of a qualified and nationally registered occupational therapist with at least one-year clinical experience.

Students must complete a minimum of 250 hours within a mental health and/or psychosocial setting and a minimum of 250 hours within a physical/ sensory disability practice setting (CORU 2017).

According to the WFOT “Practice education is for students to integrate knowledge, professional reasoning, and professional behaviour within practice and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to the level of competence required of qualifying occupational therapists” (W.F.O.T., 2016, p.48). he overall aim of Practice Education therefore is to integrate academic study with competency development and can be defined as the process of assisting students in the acquisition of competence to graduate required to fulfil the Minimum Standards set by universities, CORU and the professional accreditation body, AOTI on behalf of WFOT.

The overall aims of Practice Education at the University of Galway are:

To achieve competence in practice as an occupational therapist again the OTRB CORU standards of proficiency (2017)
To apply of the principles of the person, environment, occupation, and participation in occupation using best evidence when working collaboratively with service users to promote their health and well- being
To think, reason and problem solve within the scope of occupational therapy practice and relevant to practice contexts
To complete all aspects of the occupational therapy process to practice standard
To adhere to published standards of professional and ethical codes of conduct
To adhere to legislation, policies and procedures that are relevant to occupational therapy practice
To work in partnership with service users, carers, groups, or communities in practice
To advocate for the value of occupation with service users, carers, groups, or communities
To establish and evaluate therapeutic and professional relationships and work collaboratively within teams, organisations, service, or community networks
To be a reflective and critical practitioner.
To ensure the safety and welfare of service users, staff and all participants in the work setting
To communicate appropriately to staff, service users and others to professional standard

Hour Requirements

During the course, students undertake 1,000 hours of practice education (i.e. clinical practice under the supervision of an experienced Occupational Therapist). At present, this takes place in four eight week blocks (one in in Semester 2 of Year 2, one in Semester 2 of Year 3 and the other two in Semester 1 of Year 4).